Hay River (Apr 25/05) - The admission policy at Hay River's French-language Ecole Boreale remains a contentious issue, as witnessed at an April 21 public meeting.

The controversial policy allows so-called non-rightholders - those who do not have a constitutional right to an education in French - to be admitted to the school.

However, some argue the policy is negatively impacting the town's English-language schools.

"Many in our community are concerned as they feel that public school students are being disadvantaged through the dilution and redistribution of resources, as students move from the public school system into French first language schooling," said parent Brad Mapes, adding that declining enrolment in the public schools means reduced funding, program restrictions and possible layoffs.

"To provide the best education for all students in our community, it is critical that French first education in Hay River be restricted to rightholders only, as was understood to be the original intent," he said.

Of the 50 people at the meeting, about a quarter applauded Mapes' comments.

The admission policy made headlines in January when the Hay River District Education Authority banned Ecole Boreale students from a science fair. The authority argued the two systems compete for students and it loses about $9,000 in territorial funding for every student that moves to Ecole Boreale.

Generous application

Gerard Lavigne, the superintendent of Commission Scolaire Francophone, told the public meeting that the courts have supported a "broad and generous" application of minority education rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Children who don't fall into the strict definition of rightholders can be admitted to French-language schools based on parental demand and community realities, he explained, noting that also happens in other parts of Western Canada.

"At its basis, it's still a question of parental demand," he said.

Lavigne does not think the number of non-rightholders at Ecole Boreale is negatively affecting the English-language schools. "I don't see that at all."

The total student population of the school is only 55, he noted.

"We didn't take 50 in one fell swoop."

There could be many factors involved in a drop in the number of students at the other schools, he said.

The superintendent added he doesn't believe the issue is not divisive at the community level.

Lavigne was asked why non-rightholders are not allowed in the Yellowknife French-language school, but are allowed in Hay River.

The superintendent explained it's a matter of different community realities.

In Yellowknife, he noted there are French immersion programs in the Roman Catholic and public schools systems, but there are no such programs in Hay River.

Ecole Boreale operates in four portable classrooms, but a new school is nearing completion with a design capacity of 110 students.

It has been a separate school for four years, after beginning in 1996 as a program at Princess Alexandra school.